Research Details

Abstract

Teaching by examples and cases is widely used to promote learning, but it varies widely in its effectiveness. The authors test an adaptation to case-based learning that facilitates abstracting problem-solving schemas from examples and using them to solve further problems: analogical encoding, or learning by drawing a comparison across examples. In 3 studies, the authors examined schema abstraction and transfer among novices learning negotiation strategies. Experiment 1 showed a benefit for analogical learning relative to no case study. Experiment 2 showed a marked advantage for comparing two cases over studying the 2 cases separately. Experiment 3 showed that increasing the degree of comparison support increased the rate of transfer in a face-to-face dynamic negotiation exercise.

Type

Article

Author(s)

Dedre Gentner, Jeffrey Loewenstein, Leigh Thompson

Date Published

2003

Citations

Gentner, Dedre, Jeffrey Loewenstein, and Leigh Thompson. 2003. Learning and Transfer: A General Role for Analogical Encoding. Journal of Educational Psychology.(2): 393-408.